Share this with

Robbie Williams and Ayda Field recently welcomed their third child, daughter Colette, in secret via a surrogate.

And Gary Barlow has praised the X Factor judges for finding the ‘perfect solution’ after having ‘difficulties’ conceiving naturally.

Speaking about the couple – who also share Theodora and Charlton together – he explained: ‘I knew they had been having problems conceiving. It was a very upsetting time and Ayda was really going through it.

‘Rob told me they were going to go down the surrogate route and I thought that was a perfect solution.’

Gary Barlow praised Robbie Williams and Ayda Field (Picture: Getty)

The Take That star also revealed how much being a dad had ‘changed’ the 44-year-old and made him happier.

‘Rob is a changed man. He’s a wonderful dad and Ayda is a top mum. They are just a lovely family,’ he added to Hello! Magazine. ‘Rob has realised that is where happiness comes from. We’ve all come a long way.’

Taking to Instagram, the 39-year-old shared a sweet, black-and-white family portrait of their hands, with her 443k followers.

‘I spy with my little eye an extra little hand,’ she wrote. ‘So we have been keeping a very special secret! We are delighted to share with you that we have had a baby girl….welcome to the world Colette (Coco) Josephine Williams!!

‘It has been a very long and difficult path to get here, which is why we have kept it on the down low. Family comes in all forms, and this little lady, who is biologically ours, was carried by an incredible surrogate mother, to whom we will be eternally grateful.

‘We are over the moon to have this beautiful baby girl in our lives and so blessed that we live in a world which makes this possible. As with Teddy and Charlie, we ask that you respect Coco’s privacy and allow us to grow into our new team of 5! #TeamWilliams.’

While we were completely blindsided by the baby news, we can’t even begin to think how shocked Simon Cowell and co were.

‘We’ve seen lots of Robbie and Ayda lately. They have been on great form on the judging panel. The fact they were going through so much behind the scenes has come absolutely out of nowhere.

‘But obviously everybody here is delighted for them and we look forward to seeing them again at the next stage of filming.’

Got a showbiz story?

If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.